Skip to content
GREMockTests
GRE vocabulary

staunch

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore S words

firmly loyal and committed

Word origin: From Old French estanche, watertight or firm.

Start a free GRE mock test 39 minutes · free · instant score
In a sentence

Staunch in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing staunch in a sentence.

He was a staunch advocate of free public education.

She remained a staunch defender of the program even after most of its early backers had withdrawn.

Synonyms
Antonyms
waveringdisloyal

Quick GRE check

Question 1 of 3

3 questions, about 2 minutes. How would you do on the real test?

Verbal · Sentence Equivalence

Because the evidence linking the additive to the illness remained blank, regulators declined to issue a ban and instead called for further study.

Select the two answers that give the sentence the same meaning. 0 of 2 selected.

Usage & nuance

Using “staunch” well

Staunch as an adjective means firmly loyal and committed, as in a staunch ally. As a verb (sometimes spelled stanch) it means to stop a flow, especially of blood, so let context distinguish them.

Common questions

Questions about “staunch”

Staunch (adjective) means firmly loyal and committed
Here is staunch used in an example sentence: "He was a staunch advocate of free public education." Another example: "She remained a staunch defender of the program even after most of its early backers had withdrawn."
Common synonyms for staunch include steadfast, devoted, resolute.
Antonyms of staunch include wavering, disloyal.
Clusters with steadfast, devoted, and resolute in Sentence Equivalence. Its antonyms wavering and disloyal mark the opposite, unreliable pole.
Yes. Staunch is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

See these words the way the GRE tests them.

Take the free 39-minute GRE Quick Mock Test and meet words like this inside real Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions, with a worked solution for every answer.